Jacob McSweeny is assistant news director and a multimedia journalist with the Whanganui Chronicle
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No by-election for Nicola Patrick's Horizons seat
Horizons' chairwoman will take over Nicola Patrick's council responsibilities.

Trust fundraiser confident they can find funds for extra Sarjeant costs
Williams was confident the trust would help, but ratepayers were likely to pay more

Finance expert says to stay the course with KiwiSaver, don't panic
Tom Hartmann described the drops in KiwiSaver as theoretical, 'paper losses'.

Call for better regional connections with buses, trains
Regional connectivity was more in demand than urban services in submissions to Horizons.

'This is exciting for us': Dental grants of up to $1000 a year
"No one wants to go and spend money with a dentist and ... to be in the dental chair."

DHB plans to put chemo and transfusion unit inside hospital
The acting DHB boss warned the search for chemotherapy site may have to start again

Hospital's mental health unit moved to Wicksteed St
Patients and staff were moved to the Te Rito site on Wicksteed St about two weeks ago.

Calls to bring Wellington commuter train to Whanganui
Rail was very popular among submitters to Horizons public transport plans.

Whanganui home fetches record-breaking $2m
Before this, Whanganui's biggest sale was $1.6 million

'I thought it was the booster shot': South Taranaki fisher finds tag in snapper
Mr Chilt thought something was fishy about the metal tag until he contacted NIWA.

Whanganui shipping company to get new boat as Government backs 'blue highway'
The new ship would have much more capacity than the Anatoki, bringing in about 2000 tonne

Number of out-of-town property owners voting in Whanganui low and declining
"A lot of people actually just don't care or perhaps don't realise."

GPs facing 'workforce crisis'
Dr Ken Young is concerned there isn't a specific commitment to increase the GP workforce.

Police investigating gun incident at liquor store
The liquor store worker said he now feels unsafe at work.

'Anzac veteran' supporting anti-mandate protesters never served
Vernon Ballance of Whanganui donned a replica uniform.

Taco Bell seeks consent to build Whanganui store
A decision has not yet been made on the resource consent application.

'You're older now and people don't want an older worker'
Whanganui residents talk about the challenges of approaching retirement age.

House listings up, buyers can take their time
"They're not going to be picking up the phone and rushing to make an offer."

Clear skies to continue into weekend in Whanganui
The persistence of the weather this time of year was not very common, MetService said.

Good vibrations take heat out of carbon emissions
Radio waves will put a vibration through the yarn, chief executive Greg Smith said

DHB quiet over promised chemotherapy unit
There appears to have been little progress in the plan for a chemo and transfusion unit.

'Every week's a crisis': Eat or pay bills as cost of living cripples family budgets
"Food is one where it's making a terrible impact ... That's a basic."

Medlab working on improving its culture around hazards after WorkSafe investigation
WorkSafe said risk management principles were not being "effectively applied" at Medlab.

Freeride world ski champ Jess Hotter on fear and getting back up after a big crash
"It still doesn't feel real. I don't really know how to describe it."

Outpouring of elation greets Covid-19 restrictions move
"It's good timing. Not just for us, I think the country's been waiting for this."

Inflation: 'How do you know what the bottom line is when it's all gone up?'
Kitchen builder John Fearn said his business was close to being booked out a year ahead.

RSA president worried new Anzac Day service will confuse veterans
RSA president Rod Hart is concerned people may mistake the new event for the usual one.

Eastown Timber fire likely caused by electrical fault
The fire was "one of those things that just happened", Eastown Timber's manager says.

First home buyers 'getting some really good deals'
For first home buyers who have the funding, now is a good time to buy in Whanganui.

'We're absolutely thrilled for him': Former NZ Opera School student wins Grammy
"He's one of the finest Wagnerian tenors in the world."

Councils consider Covid-19 rule changes for access to facilities
Horizons has chosen to "park" its vaccine pass requirements from Monday, March 28

Sarjeant cost blowout: What our councillors say
Councillor Helen Craig said Lotteries might help stump up some of the $9.4m shortfall.

Fire crew remains overnight after wood factory fire
Eastown Timber owner says he will start talking to insurers before they start rebuilding.

Six Whanganui Prison inmates isolating as close contacts to Covid case
The six prisoners arrived at Whanganui Prison on Wednesday.

No gong for Whanganui in this year's beautiful awards
Whanganui demonstrated "sustainable and environmentally conscious action".

Budget adviser says buy-now, pay-later products being used for meat
There was also a beneficiary struggling to pay off 10 different buy-now, pay-later plans.

Five tips to save for your home deposit in small-town NZ
Lifting KiwiSaver payments, stricter budgeting and finding cheaper rent are some ideas.

How home buyers are being hit hard by lending changes
Mortgage adviser: 'They won't believe somebody could change when they get a house'.

Heads Rd cemetery pines come down with a thump
The arborists are using a combination of climbing and bucket trucks to access the trees.

Elderly woman frustrated by no-shows from in-home carers
Aged Concern Whanganui: No-shows of in-home carers are increasing

'Downright disgusting': Post-Christmas rubbish pile up prompts council rethink
"It's just not a good look for anybody travelling through that area."

'It certainly woke me up': South Taranaki earthquake felt widely
"We certainly felt it. It certainly woke me up."

Free pass: Whanganui River Markets will open to all
Outdoor markets are now considered retail spaces, so vaccine passes are not needed.

Whanganui aged care worker calls for safe staffing
The worker hopes a petition to the Government will lead to enforced staff levels.

Jacob McSweeny: Learning to love my bike
Comment: Getting my bike stolen led me to really appreciate my next ride

On yer bike: An in-depth look at cycling in Whanganui
'You don't need to be in the latest gear and you don't need to be good.'

Lenders scrutinising mortgage hopefuls closely, adviser warns
First home buyers seeking a mortgage must cut their spending, a Whanganui adviser says.

Sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson dies in hospital, aged 74
Stewart Murray Wilson, known as the Beast of Blenheim, has died in hospital.

How much more a week could your mortgage be following the OCR increase?
'Tightening of purse strings' is likely after the OCR rise, a local mortgage adviser says.

How August lockdown put house settlements in jeopardy
One person got stuck obliged to buy house in Australia but couldn't finish sale here

The 90% Project: Leading Whanganui residents on why they got the jab
Whanganui leaders back to The 90% Project and talk of their own vaccine experience.

'Nerve-racking': Running an eatery amid alert level changes
Whanganui restaurants are coping with Covid restrictions but owners fear more.

Local memories of 9/11 terror attack flood back 20 years on
'I will never, ever, in a million years forget that moment'. Locals share their memories.

Expanding funeral attendances in Whanganui a big relief for families
"It's been tough times for families, gosh it's been hard" - Whanganui funeral director

Median property value for Whanganui at $557,000
House values in Whanganui continue to climb, but not as fast as earlier in the year

Adviser warns businesses to be ready for Covid-19
Covid-19 will likely reach the Whanganui community and businesses told to be ready.

Has Whanganui stuck to the rules on lockdown?
Whanganui people largely compliant apart from a few night crawlers, police say

Ministry reveals how many Covid-19 close contacts in Whanganui region
After going to Bayleys Auckland conference, Whanganui staff in self-isolation.

'We're old hands': Whanganui housing market holding up in lockdown
'Everybody's developed ways to be able to keep the industry moving during these periods.'

Baking and outdoor exercise the go-to lockdown activities in Whanganui
Keeping the kids busy with baking and exercise in a Whanganui lockdown.

All aboard the 'Death Ship' at Waiouru army museum for pandemic experience
'Ships played a key role in the global spread of the deadly virus'

Whanganui photograph: Do you know the mystery couple?
Wedding photograph was part of "box lot" bought in auction.

Whanganui freight office wants their drivers to feel special
Whanganui freight office celebrates drivers as part of nationwide initiative.

High school putting on show reflecting 1920s life in Berlin
High school putting on show reflecting 1920s' Berlin artistic community.

Machine installed after Rutherford school's neighbour dies of cardiac arrest
Defibrillator installed after Rutherford school's neighbour dies of cardiac arrest

Second hand shop's long time manager to retire with replacement yet to be found
Cheep Shop to close this weekend as long time manager not replaced.

Standoff between builders and council over new consent rules
Stratford builders say guidelines suddenly being implemented by council delaying projects.

Big read: A first-home buyer's guide to Whanganui
What first home buyers need to get over the line and buy in Whanganui

Investors drop out of Whanganui housing market, first-home buyers fill void
"Three months ago it was carnage."

At a crossroads: How Bulls is thriving
The "humming" town of several thousand people seeing a new influx of residents.

Final Chathams flight for versatile Convair 580
Air Chathams' stalwart Convair 580 is to be retired at the end of the month.

Jacob McSweeny: Two road rage incidents with vastly different outcomes
Opinion: When the middle finger fails to deliver your road rage message.

Best of 2019: School says there will be leniency over uniform change
Whanganui school parents told leniency will be shown in uniform change.

Bigger attendances on two main days
Whanganui Vintage Weekend a complete success say organisers.